Associate Quality Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does an Associate Quality Scientist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Quality Scientist in the United States is $80,118 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, an Associate Quality Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $96,079
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,929 to $88,473
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,563

Key Factors That Influence Associate Quality Scientist Salaries

An Associate Quality Scientist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Associate Quality Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Quality Scientist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $63,850
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $79,503
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $97,038
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $122,907
  • Expert (over 8 years): $132,536
Levels Salary
Quality C... Level Associate Quality Scientist$63,850
Associate... Level Associate Quality Scientist$79,503
Quality C... Level Associate Quality Scientist$97,038
Quality C... Level Associate Quality Scientist$122,907
Quality C... Level Associate Quality Scientist$132,536

How Do Associate Quality Scientist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Associate Quality Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $88,706.
  • California: $88,370.
  • Massachusetts: $87,192.

Top Paying Cities for Associate Quality Scientists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $101,052
  • San Francisco: $99,946
  • Oakland: $97,840

What Skills Can Increase an Associate Quality Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.61% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 2.84% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
  • Chemistry (Mentioned in 2.06% Job Postings): Chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances of which matter is composed.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.61%
Food Safety 2.84%
Chemistry 2.06%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Associate Quality Scientist's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $85,726
7%
SOP $84,925
6%
Collaboration $84,124
5%

Associate Quality Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Associate Quality Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 5% above the average. In contrast, Associate Quality Scientist positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Associate Quality Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Associate Quality Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$84,124$40.05%
Biotechnology$84,124$40.05%
Business Services$84,124$40.05%
Chemicals$84,124$40.05%
Construction$84,124$40.05%

How Education impacts an Associate Quality Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Associate Quality Scientists enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Associate Quality Scientist with a Associate's Degree is between $75,130 and $80,644).

Associate Quality Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Quality Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 1.8%
Associates 4.5%
Bachelors 70.5%
Masters 23.2%
Doctorate 0.0%

Associate Quality Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Quality Scientist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$70,929
Average $80,118/year
$88,473
$5,911
Average $6,676/month
$7,373
$1,364
Average $1,541/week
$1,701
$34
Average $39/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $88,473 $7,373 $1,701 $43
Average $80,118 $6,676 $1,541 $39
25th Percentile $70,929 $5,911 $1,364 $34

Most common benefits for Associate Quality Scientist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Associate Quality Scientist

Here are companies hiring for Associate Quality Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Associate Quality Scientist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Associate Quality Scientist?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Associate Quality Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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